Features of Development of Technogenic Disturbance in the North of Western Siberia in Connection with Oil and Gas Production and Transportation

Abstract

On the basis of a detailed comparison of the boundaries of disturbed areas with the boundaries of land allotments for infrastructure facilities, the share of exceeding the permissible mechanical impact on the soil and vegetation cover for a representative sample of oil and gas fields located in the natural conditions of the northern taiga was estimated. It was found that the total share of land withdrawal averages 7.2 %, while the median share of exceeding the limits of regulated impact relative to the land withdrawal area is 9.3 %. The retrospective analysis of vegetation dynamics within the disturbed areas was carried out, which showed that in 9-11 years of industrial development of deposits the values of vegetation index NDVI decrease by 40 %, but in 24–26 years NDVI starts to increase steadily, which confirms a clear tendency of natural vegetation recovery in conditions of reduced intensity of anthropogenic impact. It is concluded that it is necessary to carry out regular remote monitoring of land use in the conditions of oil and gas infrastructure expansion in the north of Western Siberia.